Conveyor mechanisms



June 20, 1961 D. M. cLAPP ET AL coNvEYoR MECHANIsMs IN VEN TORS AV/ M.CLA/Dp 1% g Bvmfs A. /M/ ref/u A 'OR/Vy 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 19,1959 June 20, 1961 D. M. cLAPP ETAL 2,989,169

coNvEYoR MECHANIsMs Filed March 19, 1959 5 sheets-sheet 2 1N VENTORSAv/.o/M. CMPP WML w11 E}J11111 11111 h1111d+1 11.11 ,mm1 QQmu" Gom, 111Q QM BY fm1/55 P. /W/ ref/4 L June 20, 1961 D. M. CLAPP ET AL CONVEYORMECHANISMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 19, 1959 INVENTORS av/ /i/l.CMPP c BYJlMfS/Q/W/ Tome-.4

A Tm/e/vfy June 20, 1961 D. M. cLAPP ETAL 2,989,169

CONVEYOR MECHANISMS l Filed Maron 19, 1959 v 5 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTORSA v/D A7. C2 A PP BY fl/nfs /I/l/cf/EL L ATTORNEY June 20, 1961 D. M.CLAPP ET AL l 2,989,169

CoNvEYoR MECHANISMS Filed March 19, 1959 5 Sheetsfsh t 5 INVENTORS 4WDM. (ZA/JP Q BY JMEs/Q /l/l/c//fLL '1,989,1591, -f l i., CUNVEYORMECHANSMS Dld Clapp, Detroit, aud :lames fR. Mitchell, Frank'- l lin,*assignors to Service Gouve'yor Co., a corporation of MichiganA Filed Mal. 19, 1959, Ser. N0. 300,582

1 Claim. (Cl. 193;196)

This` invention relates to improvements in pan type conveyors and moreparticularly .toan improvedendless chain pan conveyor usable in allYgeneral ,type pan conveying operations includingthe conveying ofarticles or materials jthrough ovens and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved, simplyconstructed, inexpensive to manufacture and readily Yserviced continuouspan type conveyor which may be employed `in the conveying of bulk,granular or pebbled material as well as small and large parts. A furtherobject of the invention-is to provide an improved continuous pan typevconveyor wherein the pans thereof are alike, eachformed with yitsbottom Vand sides as a unitary element, and withthe leading end of eachpan telescopingly disposed in the preceding pan ofthe conveyor ight.

Another 'object of the invention is to provide an` conveyor chain linkpin, roller and track element taken proved chain drive pan conveyorwhich employs with each pan a tubular mounting sleeve across the bottomat thercar thereof, and pivot rod means disposed through said mountingsleeve adapt-ed to hingedly support and' connect each said pan tolaterally opposite links ofthe drive chain of the conveyor link at aplace other than the link pins of said drive chain, only one hingedsupport being employed for each conveyor pan located at each or atselected spaced'links of the conveyor drive cthain, each said panincluding at its forward end retainer clip means adapted to pivotallyengage the tubular mounting sleeve at the rear of the preceding conveyorpan on the return flight thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a continuous pan conveyorin which the pan spacing is not dependent upon the pitch of the conveyorchain, and in which one pan per pitch of the conveyor chain may be used,or, if desired, one pan may be employed at every second, third or moreconveyor chain link.

Another object of the invention is to provide a `pan conveyor 1n whichthe side plates of the pans thereof need not be offset, the pansemployed being readily formed bysimpleiexpeiisive shear and breakoperations.

Another object of the invention is to provide an irnproved pan conveyorwhich has less operational friction when slight rnisalignment thereofmay occur than'other pan conveyors, and wherein minor pan damage orwarpage will not adversely affect the operation thereof. t futheiobjectof the invention is Vto provide :an improved pan conveyor employing atubular pivot sleeve across each pan thereof with a pivot rodtherethrough connected to a chain link spaced from the chain pivot pins,which pivot sleeves and pivot rods serve the combined function of chainspacers and pan spacers.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of an improved pan conveyorembodying the invention, the material discharge end of the conveyorbeing illustrated.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the improved pan conveyor shown inFIG. 1 with the sprocket shaft supports omitted.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the illustrativeembodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view through a typical on the line 4-4of FIG. 1.

is a more or less diagrammatic sectional through theV conveyor disclosedin FIGS. 1 4 inclusive at atypical support for a level iiight.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentarymore or less diagrammatic sectional view similarto FIG. 5 showing a retainer track disposed above the usual `guide andsupport track, the said retainer track being used in instances where theytravel of the conveyor. changes grade.

FIG. 7 `is a longit dinal sectional view of overlapping corg/eyor panstaken substantially on the line 7-7o`f` FI l.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a conveyor pan of the type employed in thimproved pan conveyor disclosed in FIGS. l-7 inclusive, the showing of apivot rod and chain links being included 'to indicate the mounting ofthe conveyor pan ona Yconveyor chain.

FIG. 9 is a trailing end elevational view taken on the line of FIG. 8. if f 10 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 10V-10 o`f F`IG. 9. uRferringnow to the drawings wherein like reference numerals Vrefer tolike and corresponding parts throughout the several views, theparticular pan conveyor 1,0 disclosed forthe purpose of illustrating theinvention consists of a pair of continuous roller conveyor chains 11supported on and guided by upper and lower pairs of `guide rails 12 and1:3 respectively and front and rear pairs of sprockets 14. Each pair ofsprockets 14 is keyed on a transverse sprocket shaft 20. Only thesprockets 14 at the front or discharge end of the pan conveyor 10 andthe front sprocket shaft 20 is shown in the drawlugs.

The `guide rails 12 and l13 on each side of the pan con veyor 10 aresupported on suitable stanchions 15 which are cross braced by struts 16.-In instances where the travel of the conveyor changes grade, a retainertrack 28 may be employed above each yguide rail 12 and 123 at the pointof change in grade, see FIG. 6. Additional longitudinal and verticalframing at 17 and 18 located laterally outwardly of each sprocket 14supports a `pillc'qw block 19 through which one end of a sprocket shaft20 is journaled. A conventional motor and speed reducer, not shown,drives one of the sprocket shafts 20, thus driving one pair of sprockets14 which in turn drives the lateralhr spaced endless roller chains v11of the pan conveyor 10. inasmuch as the abovedescribed portion of thepan conveyor y10 is of conventional construction, only so much thereofas is necessary to disclose and illustrate the instant invention hasbeen shown in the drawlngs.

The type of roller Vconveyor chain 11 preferably "ernployed consists ofalternate pairs of longitudinally 'disposed laterally spaced inner andouter links 21 and 22 respectively, each pair of links 21 and 22 beingconnected together by headed link pins 23. A sleeve 24 journaled overeach link pin 23 spaces the outer links 22 while the inner links 21 aretelescoped thereover. A roller 25 is centrally mounted on the sleeve 24and serves as a spacer for the inner links 21. The several components ofthe roller conveyor chain 11 are assembled as best shown in FIGS. l and4 with a cotter pin 26 extending through a diametrically disposedaperture 230 in the kfree slightly extending end of each link pin 23.

AConveyor pans 30 of the pan conveyor 10 are preferably formed from flatsheet metal into a trough shape as shown throughout the drawings. Eachconveyor pan 30 includes a base portion 300 tapered laterally from rearto front, and is wider at the rear thereof than at the front thereof,and is provided with integral side members 301 forming a trough. Thesaid conveyor pans 30 are so Patented June-20, 19.61`

proportioned as to permit the leading or narrow end of each pan to nestinto the rear or wide end of the next preceding pan of the pan conveyor10, see FIGS. 1 and 3.

Each conveyor pan 30 is provided with a laterally central tubularcombined pivot and spacer element 32 disposed transversely across thebottom thereof at the rear thereof, and is welded thereto at W as shownin the drawings. The said spacer element 32 is of the proper length toabut against the laterally innermost links of selected opposite pairs ofinner links 21 of the roller conveyor chain 11. The said selected pairsof inner chain links 21 are suitably apertured at 210 to telescopinglyreceive a pivot rod 33 therethrough. A pivot rod 33 is telescopcdthrough each combined pivot and spacer element 32, and through theapertures 210 in the said selected pairs of inner chain links 21. Theends of the said pivot rod 33 extend slightly beyond the outermost linkof the said selected pairs of inner chain links 21 of the rollerconveyor chain 11, see FIGS. 8 and 9, and said pivot 4rod 33 isdiametrically bored adjacent the outer side of the outermost links ofopposite pairs of inner links 21 of the conveyor chain 11 to accommodatecotter pins 34. As an alternate, the said pivot rods 33 may be supportedby laterally opposite selected pairs of outer chain'links 22, in whichevent the combined pivot and spacer Velement 32 would be slightlyshorter and the pivot rods A`33 would be slightly longer than when thepivot rods 33 are supported on laterally opposite selected pairs ofinner chain links 21.

Thusly, the pivot rod 33 and pivot and spacer element 32 located at thebottom of the rear end of each conveyor pan 30 pivotally supports therear of each said 4 30, and, when the said conveyor pans 30 are invertedon the return ight of the pans 30, the forward ends of the said pans 30are hung by the said retainer clips 35 on the tubular pivot and spacerelement 32 at the rear end of the next preceding conveyor pan 30. If thetubular pivot and spacer element 32 is located slightly forward of therear end of each conveyor pan '30, then the forwardly dis l posedportion 350 of each retainer clip 35 will be disposed to engage the rearend of the base 300 of the preceding conveyor pan 30.

The invention provides an extremely economical to manufacture, readilyrepaired and serviced, rugged pan type conveyor wherein the pans aresimply constructed and mounted on the conveyor chains at points otherthan at the chain pivot pins which makes repair and/or replacement ofdamaged pans a minor service item without necessity for dismantling theconveyor chain drive mechanism to accomplish the repairs. Furthermore,unless the pans are badly damaged, a pan conveyor embodying theinvention cannot bind and become inoperative during use.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been disclosed anddescribed in detail, it is obvious that many changes may be made in thesize, shape, arrangel ment and detail of the various elements of theinvention,

all without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as delined bythe appended claim.

We claim:

In a pan conveyor, longitudinally movable laterally spaced continuousendless conveyor chains including a conveyor pan in lateral centralspaced relationship between the roller conveyor chains 11, andsimultaneously gages the said continuous roller conveyor chains 11 totravel on their guide rails 12 and 13 and onto and around the sprockets14 located at each end of the said continuous roller chains 11. Thelength of each conveyor pan 30 is such in relationship to thelongitudinal spacing of the selected pairs of inner chain links 21 ontowhich the rear end of each conveyor pan 30 is pivotally supported thatthe forward end of each conveyor pan 30 will nest in the rear of thenext preceding conveyor pan 30 as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

A Z-shaped retainer clip 35 is welded at W or otherwise secured to thebottom of the base 300 of each conveyor pan 30 at the lateral centerthereof located so that its forwardly disposed portion '350 issufficiently spaced from the said base 300 to underlie the tubular pivotand ,spacer element 32 of the next preceding conveyor pan as best shownin FIG. 7. The retainer clip 35 functions only when the said conveyorpans 30 are disposed in other than their normal conveying positionduring the travel of the endless conveyor chains I11. In other words, onthe conveying flight of the pans 30, the forwardly disposed portion 350of the clips 35 of each pan 30 are spaced from the rear end of thepreceding conveyor pan plurality of longitudinally disposed linksconnected together by link pins with a roller journaled on said linkpins, track and sprocket means supporting and guiding said rollerconveyor chains, a series of conveyor pans including a tapered base andintegral side plates, said conveyor pans being nested in verticaloverlapping tandem relationship, a tubular pivot sleeve fixed to thebottom of the rear end of each conveyor pan extending in abutmentbetween opposite inner links of said conveyor chains longitudinallybetween link pins thereof laterally spacing said conveyor chains, apivot pin positioned through each said pivot sleeve and extendingthrough opposite pairs of chain links longitudinally between the Y linkpieces of said pairs of chain links, means on the bottom of eachconveyor pan formed to engage the pivot sleeve of the next precedingconveyor pan for retaining the forward end of each said conveyor pan insaid nested relationship within the rear of said next preceding conveyorpan when the said conveyor pans are traveling in other than their normalconveying position during the travel of the said endless conveyorchains.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 314,790Briscoe et al Mar. 31, 1885 720,963 Petersen Feb. 17, 1903 967,424OToole Aug. 16, 1910 1,291,446 Dull Jan. 14. 1919

